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Grade 8 Argument

A Writing Project and Rubrics

Learning Module

Abstract

This Learning Module provides rubrics and a project for writing arguments. The rubrics are designed to be accessible to students in Scholar, translating the standards outlined in CCSS, PARCC, Smarter Balanced, and 6 +1 Traits. The rubrics focus on formative assessment (prospective and constructive), rather than summative assessment (retrospective and judgmental).

Keywords

CCSS, PARCC, Smarter Balanced, 6+1 Traits, Rubrics, Writing Project, Formative Assessment, Argument

1. About this Learning Module

What is this Learning Module about?

In this Scholar Learning Module, you can select from five rubrics linked to a generic grade 8 project on writing an argument. It is part of a series of learning modules for grades 4-12, focused on how to write arguments, narratives, and informative/explanatory texts.

Why would I use it?

This Learning Module is designed to save you time when creating rubrics and projects in Scholar. You select the rubric that is relevant to your school context and adapt it for your students. The rubrics support student learning by focusing on formative assessment (prospective and constructive), rather than summative assessment (retrospective and judgmental).

Updates 2a-2d of this Learning Module include rubrics that cover the standards of:

  • Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
  • Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
  • Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced)
  • 6+1 Traits (Education Northwest)

How can I use it?

Select the appropriate rubric, and press the "Start Project" button. "Select Publisher" and "Continue". This will copy the rubric and project to the Publisher (group/class) that you select. In this Publisher, you can set up your class writing project by adapting the rubric, adding more information about the writing task, and inserting dates for the phases of drafting, feedback, revision, and publication. When you "Finalize the Project", Notifications will be sent to students.

2a. USA Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

For the Student

Learning Intention: To start my writing project and to use the rubric to identify what is important to include.

Project Name: My Argument

Description: Write an argument about an issue or topic you choose or one suggested by your teacher.

This where you start your writing project by checking your Notifications and clicking on the Work Request. The link will take you to Creator where you can start writing. Clicking on the Work Request is very important so that the work that you create is connected to the project that your teacher has set up.

Work Request

 You should look in the About This Work Toolbar to find out more information about the project, change its title, create an outline for your work using the Structure tool, and check the timeline.

About This Work

 For what you need to do in order to write an effective argument, go to the Feedback Toolbar. In Reviews, open the Rubric. Keep the rubric open and refer to it as you write.

Comment: Do you have any questions about how Scholar works? Make a comment in this update. If you think you have an answer to another student's question, please answer it - be sure to name the student you are replying to in your comment by starting with @Name.

For the Teacher

This project and rubric are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The Common Core is a set of academic standards for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, and that these should be comparable and transferable regardless of where they live.

The Left or Member Side provides instructions and information that you can send to students as an Update that appears in their activity streams in Community. The Right or Admin Side (this side) has instructions and information for teachers. It includes:

  • Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher
  • Starting the Project
  • Students Starting Drafts
  • Project Rubric
  • Grade 8 Standards in Writing

Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher

First, ensure that the Community is synced with the Publisher. This automatically sets up a Publisher with the same members as the Community. Go to Your Communities => Create a Community and follow the wizard. Check "Create a Publisher and keep it synced with this Community".

Starting the Project

Below you will see a button "Start Project". This will copy the project and take you into the Publisher (class/group) that you select. Here you can follow the project wizard to add a title and more details about the task, and set dates for when drafts, reviews, and revisions are due. You can also decide the number of reviewers, whether reviewers are anonymous, and whether you would like students to add annotations or publication recommendations.

Starting the project also copies the rubric to the Publisher that you select. Before finalizing the project, you can edit the rubric in Tools =>Rubrics. The rubric attempts to cover all the CCSS writing standards, so is quite detailed. You can have more or fewer criteria, and/or simplify what is in each criterion if necessary.

When you press the "Finalize" button, the project will start. Notifications will be sent out to students to start their work, provide feedback, and revise on the dates you have determined in the project.

Making Updates

Below you will also see a button “Post Left-Side Content Community”. If you wish, you can post this directly to a Community so the students have some introductory instructions (in case they are not already familiar with Scholar). You can use the edit pencil of the Update to give the writing project a title and add more details about the task - use the same title and description that you used in the project description in Publisher. You can edit this Update until the first comment has been made. Or, you can go to Community => Updates (in the menu that pulls down across the avatar for this community) where you write your own writing project instructions.

Students Starting Drafts

Students click on the Work Requests in their Notifications. This will take them into Creator and ensures that the work that they do is connected to your project in Publisher.

Students should also refer to the rubric as a guide as they write in Creator. If students are unfamiliar with Scholar and peer review, look through the rubric with them.

Project Rubric

Grade 8 Common Core State Standards in Writing

W.8.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence

W.8.1a: Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

W.8.1b: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

W.8.1c: Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

W.8.1d: Establish and maintain a formal style.

W.8.1e: Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

W.8.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

W.8.5: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

W.8.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

2b. USA PARCC - Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers

For the Student

Learning Intention: To start my writing project and to use the rubric to identify what is important to include.

Project Name: My Argument

Description: Write an argument about an issue or topic you choose or one suggested by your teacher.

This where you start your writing project by checking your Notifications and clicking on the Work Request. The link will take you to Creator where you can start writing. Clicking on the Work Request is very important so that the work that you create is connected to the project that your teacher has set up.

Work Request

You should look in the About This Work Toolbar to find out more information about the project, change its title, create an outline for your work using the Structure tool, and check the timeline.

About This Work

For what you need to do in order to write an effective argument, go to the Feedback Toolbar. In Reviews, open the Rubric. Keep the rubric open and refer to it as you write.

Comment: Do you have any questions about how Scholar works? Make a comment in this update. If you think you have an answer to another student's question, please answer it - be sure to name the student you are replying to in your comment by starting with @Name.

For the Teacher

The project and rubric in this Update are based on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The PARCC Assessments are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

The Left or Member Side provides instructions and information that you can send to students as an Update that appears in their activity streams in Community. The Right or Admin Side (this side) has instructions and information for teachers. It includes:

  • Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher
  • Starting the Project
  • Students Starting Drafts
  • Project Rubric
  • Grade 8 Standards in Writing

Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher

First, ensure that the Community is synced with the Publisher. This automatically sets up a Publisher with the same members as the Community. Go to Your Communities => Create a Community and follow the wizard. Check "Create a Publisher and keep it synced with this Community".

Starting the Project

Below you will see a button "Start Project". This will copy the project and take you into the Publisher (class/group) that you select. Here you can follow the project wizard to add a title and more details about the task, and set dates for when drafts, reviews, and revisions are due. You can also decide the number of reviewers, whether reviewers are anonymous, and whether you would like students to add annotations or publication recommendations.

Starting the project also copies the rubric to the Publisher that you select. Before finalizing the project, you can edit the rubric in Tools =>Rubrics. The rubric attempts to cover all of the CCSS writing standards, so is quite detailed. You can have more or fewer criteria, and/or simplify what is in each criterion if necessary.

When you press the "Finalize" button, the project will start. Notifications will be sent out to students to start their work, provide feedback, and revise on the dates you have determined in the project.

Making Updates

Below you will also see a button “Post Left-Side Content Community”. If you wish, you can post this directly to a Community so the students have some introductory instructions (in case they are not already familiar with Scholar). You can use the edit pencil of the Update to give the writing project a title and add more details about the task - use the same title and description that you used in the project description in Publisher. You can edit this Update until the first comment has been made. Or, you can go to Community => Updates (in the menu that pulls down across the avatar for this community) where you write your own writing project instructions.

Students Starting Drafts

Students click on the Work Requests in their Notifications. This will take them into Creator and ensures that the work that they do is connected to your project in Publisher.

Students should also refer to the rubric as a guide as they write in Creator. If students are unfamiliar with Scholar and peer review, look through the rubric with them.

Project Rubric

Grade 8 Common Core State Standards in Writing

W.8.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence

W.8.1a: Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

W.8.1b: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

W.8.1c: Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

W.8.1d: Establish and maintain a formal style.

W.8.1e: Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

W.8.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

W.8.5: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

W.8.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

2c. USA Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium

For the Student

Learning Intention: To start my writing project and to use the rubric to identify what is important to include.

Project Name: My Argument

Description: Write an argument about an issue or topic you choose or one suggested by your teacher.

This where you start your writing project by checking your Notifications and clicking on the Work Request. The link will take you to Creator where you can start writing. Clicking on the Work Request is very important so that the work that you create is connected to the project that your teacher has set up.

Work Request

You should look in the About This Work Toolbar to find out more information about the project, change its title, create an outline for your work using the Structure tool, and check the timeline.

About This Work

For what you need to do in order to write an effective argument, go to the Feedback Toolbar. In Reviews, open the Rubric. Keep the rubric open and refer to it as you write.

Comment: Do you have any questions about how Scholar works? Make a comment in this update. If you think you have an answer to another student's question, please answer it - be sure to name the student you are replying to in your comment by starting with @Name.

For the Teacher

The project and rubric in this Update are based on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) assessments. The Smarter Balanced Assessments are aligned with the Common Core State Standards.

The Left or Member Side provides instructions and information that you can send to students as an Update that appears in their activity streams in Community. The Right or Admin Side (this side) has instructions and information for teachers. It includes:

  • Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher
  • Starting the Project
  • Students Starting Drafts
  • Project Rubric
  • Grade 8 Standards in Writing

Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher

First, ensure that the Community is synced with the Publisher. This automatically sets up a Publisher with the same members as the Community. Go to Your Communities => Create a Community and follow the wizard. Check "Create a Publisher and keep it synced with this Community".

Starting the Project

Below you will see a button "Start Project". This will copy the project and take you into the Publisher (class/group) that you select. Here you can follow the project wizard to add a title and more details about the task, and set dates for when drafts, reviews, and revisions are due. You can also decide the number of reviewers, whether reviewers are anonymous, and whether you would like students to add annotations or publication recommendations.

Starting the project also copies the rubric to the Publisher that you select. Before finalizing the project, you can edit the rubric in Tools =>Rubrics. The rubric attempts to cover all the CCSS writing standards, so is quite detailed. You can have more or fewer criteria, and/or simplify what is in each criterion if necessary.

When you press the "Finalize" button, the project will start. Notifications will be sent out to students to start their work, provide feedback, and revise on the dates you have determined in the project.

Making Updates

Below you will also see a button “Post Left-Side Content Community”. If you wish, you can post this directly to a Community so the students have some introductory instructions (in case they are not already familiar with Scholar). You can use the edit pencil of the Update to give the writing project a title and add more details about the task - use the same title and description that you used in the project description in Publisher. You can edit this Update until the first comment has been made. Or, you can go to Community => Updates (in the menu that pulls down across the avatar for this community) where you write your own writing project instructions.

Students Starting Drafts

Students click on the Work Requests in their Notifications. This will take them into Creator and ensures that the work that they do is connected to your project in Publisher.

Students should also refer to the rubric as a guide as they write in Creator. If students are unfamiliar with Scholar and peer review, look through the rubric with them.

Project Rubric

Grade 8 Common Core State Standards in Writing

W.8.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence

W.8.1a: Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

W.8.1b: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

W.8.1c: Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

W.8.1d: Establish and maintain a formal style.

W.8.1e: Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

W.8.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

W.8.5: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

W.8.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

2d. USA 6 + 1 Trait Writing (Education Northwest)

For the Student

Learning Intention: To start my writing project and to use the rubric to identify what is important to include.

Project Name: My Argument

Description: Write an argument about an issue or topic you choose or one suggested by your teacher.

This where you start your writing project by checking your Notifications and clicking on the Work Request. The link will take you to Creator where you can start writing. Clicking on the Work Request is very important so that the work that you create is connected to the project that your teacher has set up.

Work Request

You should look in the About This Work Toolbar to find out more information about the project, change its title, create an outline for your work using the Structure tool, and check the timeline.

About This Work

For what you need to do in order to write an effective argument, go to the Feedback Toolbar. In Reviews, open the Rubric. Keep the rubric open and refer to it as you write.

Comment: Do you have any questions about how Scholar works? Make a comment in this update. If you think you have an answer to another student's question, please answer it - be sure to name the student you are replying to in your comment by starting with @Name.

For the Teacher

The project and rubric in this Update are aligned with 6+1 Trait Writing Model of Instruction & Assessment, developed by Education Northwest. The 6+1 key qualities that define quality writing are ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation.

The Left or Member Side provides instructions and information that you can send to students as an Update that appears in their activity streams in Community. The Right or Admin Side (this side) has instructions and information for teachers. It includes:

  • Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher
  • Starting the Project
  • Students Starting Drafts
  • Project Rubric
  • Grade 8 Standards in Writing

Setting Up the Community and Synced Publisher

First, ensure that the Community is synced with the Publisher. This automatically sets up a Publisher with the same members as the Community. Go to Your Communities => Create a Community and follow the wizard. Check "Create a Publisher and keep it synced with this Community".

Starting the Project

Below you will see a button "Start Project". This will copy the project and take you into the Publisher (class/group) that you select. Here you can follow the project wizard to add a title and more details about the task, and set dates for when drafts, reviews, and revisions are due. You can also decide the number of reviewers, whether reviewers are anonymous, and whether you would like students to add annotations or publication recommendations.

Starting the project also copies the rubric to the Publisher that you select. Before finalizing the project, you can edit the rubric in Tools =>Rubrics. The rubric attempts to cover all the 6+1 Traits key questions, so is quite detailed. You can have more or fewer criteria, and/or simplify what is in each criterion if necessary.

When you press the "Finalize" button, the project will start. Notifications will be sent out to students to start their work, provide feedback, and revise on the dates you have determined in the project.

Making Updates

Below you will also see a button “Post Left-Side Content Community”. If you wish, you can post this directly to a Community so the students have some introductory instructions (in case they are not already familiar with Scholar). You can use the edit pencil of the Update to give the writing project a title and add more details about the task - use the same title and description that you used in the project description in Publisher. You can edit this Update until the first comment has been made. Or, you can go to Community => Updates (in the menu that pulls down across the avatar for this community) where you write your own writing project instructions.

Students Starting Drafts

Students click on the Work Requests in their Notifications. This will take them into Creator and ensures that the work that they do is connected to your project in Publisher.

Students should also refer to the rubric as a guide as they write in Creator. If students are unfamiliar with Scholar and peer review, look through the rubric with them.

Project Rubric

Grade 8 Standards in Writing: 6+1 Traits Key Questions

Does the writer engage the reader with fresh information or perspective on a focused topic?

Does the organizational structure enhance the ideas and make them easier to understand?

Does the reader clearly hear this writer speaking in the piece?

Does the author’s choice of words convey precise and compelling meaning and/or

create a vivid picture for the reader?

Does the author control sentences so the piece flows smoothly when read aloud?

How much editing is required before the piece can be shared as a final product? (Note: For the trait of conventions, grade level matters. Expectations should be based on grade level and include only skills that have been taught.)

Is the finished piece easy to read, polished in presentation, and pleasing to the eye?

3. Give Feedback and Revise

For the Student

Learning Intention: To give feedback on other students’ works and then revise my own.

Giving Feedback

Check your Notifications for Review Requests. These ask you to give feedback on another student's work. Click on the Review Request and that student's work will appear in your Works list. If it doesn't appear, refresh the page.

As you give feedback, open up the small orange arrow to check the rubric. You can use some of the language in the rubric in your feedback. Submit your feedback once it is finished.

Giving Feedback

Revising

The next stage of the writing process is to revise your own work.

Check your Notifications for a Revision Request. While you revise your work, take account of any feedback that other students have given you by checking Results. 

Checking Results

Writing a Self Review

Once you have gone through all the feedback and revised your work, go to Review Work and write a self-review. In this self-review, describe what feedback you have taken on board and how you feel that you have met the criteria.

Comment: Do you have any more questions about Scholar at this stage? Make a comment in this update. If you think you have an answer to another student's question, please answer it - be sure to name the student you are replying to in your comment by starting with @Name.

For the Teacher

This Update covers two phases of the writing process in Scholar: Review and Revision. It is included here so that you can post it directly into a Community when students are up to this phase of their writing projects.

CCSS Focus (Substitute other standards as appropriate)

W.8.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

W.8.5: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

W.8.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

L.8.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing.

L.8.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation and spelling when writing.

4. Publish and Reflect

For the Student

Learning Intention: To identify what is successful writing.

Check Notifications to see if your work has been published and whether works that you provided feedback on have been selected for publication. Published works may be viewed on your and any collaborators' individual profiles in Community.

Comment: Read two - three other people’s published arguments. Write a comment about the most interesting thing you learned from reading them. This might be ideas you hadn’t thought of, or interesting claims, counter claims and evidence. Also comment about one thing you have learned about writing arguments. Mention the creator and title of the work, and make a link to that page so the person reading your comment can jump to the page quickly.

For the Teacher

This Update focuses on the publication and reflection phases of a writing project. It is included here so that you can post it directly into a Community when students are up to this phase of their writing projects.

Notifications of publication are provided to the creator and all reviewers.

This reflection activity promotes student metacognition about what makes quality writing by reading and reflecting on other students’ writing. Ask students to look over other people’s published works - have them read at least two or three works. Ask them to comment on something interesting they learned from reading other students’ work. Refer to the Dashboard to monitor how students are progressing with their writing and their reviews.

CCSS Focus (Substitute other standards as appropriate)

W.8.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

5. About the Writer's Toolkits

What is the Writer's Toolkit?

There are five Writer’s Toolkit Learning Modules in the Literacies Learning Modules collection in the Scholar Bookstore. They provide supplementary Updates that can be posted into a Community, as and when needed by students.

  • Narrative
  • Argument/Opinion
  • Informative/Explanatory texts
  • Reading Strategies to Support Writing
  • How to use Scholar

What do the toolkits cover?

The Writer's Toolkit includes a range of "Overt Instruction" Updates. It will support you to explicitly teach:

  • Structure and language/visual/audio/gestural/spatial features of a text
  • Reading and research strategies
  • Spelling and vocabulary strategies
  • How to work in Scholar

How can I use them?

To post individual Updates into the activity stream of a Community in Scholar, go to the selected toolkit in the Bookstore. Select the Update and "Post Left-Side Content into a Community". The Update will appear in the selected Community. Students then complete the activities.

The Writer's Toolkit: Strategies for Writing Arguments in the New Media

Writer's Toolkit: Argument and Opinion

Contents

Analyzing Paragraphs in Arguments

Arguments in Blogs

Different Kinds of Argument Sentences

Facts and Details in Opinions

Paragraphs in Arguments

Paragraphs in Opinions

Point of View

Structure of Arguments

Transition Words

Vocabulary and Spelling